Launch of Oxford to London link delayed until December

Passengers hoping to commute from Oxford Railway Station to London Marylebone will now have to wait until December.

The link between Oxford Parkway Station, near Kidlingtin, and the main Oxford station was originally scheduled to open this spring, but has since been pushed back to December 12 due to complaints about noise and vibration from the building works.

The opening of the route will also see Bicester having a direct train line with Oxford city centre for the first time since the link was closed to the construction of the train links in 2011.

Richard Stow, Thames Valley spokesperson for railway action group Rail Future, told the Guardian that the project had faced fierce objections in the past from Wolvercote residents and a public inquiry was held in 2010 and 2011 on the project.

He said: “Unfortunately, the delay was inevitable given the strident opposition that has faced the project from residents in North Oxford.

“I think you’ve got to take into account that it’s not a huge delay and it was expected. However, of course, we are disappointed that the works won’t be completed sooner.

Mr Stow added that Rail Future had been made aware by residents of their fears for the project.

He said: “There have been a lot of fears with the route in terms of the construction of the tracks and the noise and vibration from the works.”

Following the public inquiry, Oxford City Council was given the responsibility for signing off matters relating to noise and vibration.

Dave Penney, managing director for Chiltern Railways, said: “The new line provides customers from Oxford city centre with more trains to London and provides a new route for many businesses and leisure visitors to the city.”

Martin Frobisher, route managing director for Network Rail, said: “This is a significant next step in connecting Oxford with London Marylebone and follows the successful opening of the line from Oxford Parkway last year.”

The £130m Oxford Parkway station was opened by the Prime Minister David Cameron last October with 1,000 commuters passing through its doors every day.

The existing line to London from Oxford Railway Station is the route to London Paddington, via Didcot and Reading.